War in Oz: Raimi vs. Disney

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Brouhaha over who should play a key role.

By Jim Vejvoda

All is not well in Emerald City.

Vulture reports that Disney and director Sam Raimi are locking horns over who should play the key role of an elder witch in Oz The Great And Powerful, a prequel to The Wizard of Oz that recounts how the wizard (to be played by James Franco) came to Oz.

Vulture claims Raimi wants to cast Oscar winner Hilary Swank in the role (they previously worked together on The Gift), but Disney is demanding that Blue Valentine's Michelle Williams play the part. The site reminds us that Raimi is notoriously dogged about getting his way when it comes to casting, so we'll see how this one plays out.

They also report that Raimi wanted to cast John C. Reilly as the wizard's sidekick, but that the actor opted to take a role in The Hunger Games instead.